The National tribune., 1887-02-17
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at The Ma
tiOnal Capital
NINETEENTH ANNUAL ENcANIrMENT, DEPART
MFNT OF THE POTOMAC


MENT OF THE POTOMAC.
The 18th annual Encampment Of the Depart
mont Of the Potomac held its session al Grand
Army Hall, corner Of Seventh and J. streets
on the evenings Of Jan. 10, "a, 81, and Feb. z.
There was an unusually large attendance OF
members aud representatives, and great lhieI-
EST was manifested IN its deliberations.
enirited hut friendly contest took place over
the Dosition of Department Commander aud
also for representatives 10 the Natlonal En-
campment The result Of the election for ofh-
GERS was as follows Commander Jerome b.
Bnrl,e lre.olected): S. v. c.. NJ Emmett Urell;
~. C., Joseph H. Jochum; NJ d., DR. Flor
euce DonOhue lscveuth electionl; Chap. Rev.
REM. Swallow nth election, Representatives
20 National Encampment William ;. Odell, at
large: John p. Church, Edward j. Russell
Alternates John c. s. Burger, Marion Il. An
derson, Charles II. Douglass.
Tie reports of the various officers and COM
mittees were received, which showed the De-
partment 10 be in prosperous condition, ana
that an the various duties have been well per-
formed.
eloouent and forcibe presentation of the work
of the Department for the past year. He laid
special stress upon the duty of the appointing
mower to recognize the claims of the defenders
of the Republic and the widows and orphans
of those deceased, for appointment 20 and re-
tention In Office under the laws in force, and he
also pleaded for those who have become inca
pactated and unable TO earn a livelihood and
the widows and orphans who have no protector
TO care for them.
Asst Adi't-Gen. Faunce reported that there
had been net gain in membership during the
wear of 1913 making the present membership
of the Department 2,09a, the largest number 1t
has ever reached. There has been gained by
muster 2l5; by transfer, 81; by reinstatement,
40. The losses have been by death, 49, by
honorable discharge, 2; by transfer, So; by
suspension, 430. The Posts have expended for
relief 81 l02 30, and in addition TO that the De
partment Relief Committee has disbursed
$649.si.
Asst Quartermaster-Gen. Cunning report
ed the financial condition of the Department
and the Posts TO be good. During the years
Comrade Cunning has occupied this position
he has handled and accounted for about S52 O0O
and the fact that for JIG consecutive years be
has been reappointed TO the position shows how
highly he is held by the comrades Of the De
partment.
Inspector Burger reported marked improve
ment in the observance of the II. and II. and
the ritnalistic ceremonies attending the mus
tering of recruits. lie recommended that the
ceremony of muster as laid down in the ritual
be strictly followed, but as there appears TO be
a lack of uniformity in the performance Of
these duties, especially as regards the Officer OF
the Day and Officer of the Guard, he recon-
mended that committee OF three be appointed
ritualistic work shall be uniformly performed
in all the Posts which was approved by the
Encampment He commended highly the
services Of Asst Insp'rs S. A. Lewis, J. w.
Conard and d. McCathran.
Judge-Adyocate Jochum's report showed that
while he had had but little to do that that had
been done well From the fact that but two
cases had been formally presented indicates
that there is harmonious feeling in the Posts
of this Department
"Uncle Ben" Swallow. the Department
Chaplain who FOR IL years has been the spirit
nal guide of the Department, wrote from a sick
bed his loving greetings to his comrades. and
his report, clothed in patriotic language showed
what warm and loving heart beat he has for
all HIS boys, as he loves to call them. The
shear hear!" that came up as the reading Of
his report closed was but the responsive utter
ance of those who love and venerate him.
DR. Donohue's report showed that the Medi-
cal Director had been as busy in caring for the
sick aud distressed the last year as during any
one OF the previous six years lac has held that
position. He commended in high terms the
work Of Potomac Relief Corps, No. 2, W-R.C.,
and asked that ii should receive the full sup
port of the Department.
The report of Chief Mastering Officer Church
was a document that showed that he had not
only read the Service Book, but had studied it
also, for he pointed cut several defects in the
installation services and suggested that the
them, which was approved.
The Department Employment Committees
report was presented by COmrade w. 5. Odel
Senior ice-Department Commander, its chair
man. This was a very interesting paper, the
reading OF which was listened TO with close &C.
tentiOn. 1t showed a marked improvement in
the appointment, reinstatement and retention
of comrades in their positions under the Fed
eral Government over that Of last year. il
commended in strong terms the valuable assist.
ance rendered the committee by the Veterans
Rights Union They reported that 130applica.
tions for employment had been received and
SIS for reinstatement, Of which number 81 APP.
pOintanenis had been secured and 81 reinstate-
ments. They complimented the Quartermas
ter-General, u. S. A., and Capt Robert ID. Ora
ham, late Secretary Of the Civil Service Com.
mission, an OK Confederate officer, for valuable
assistance rendered the committee.
The report of the Department Relief Com
mittee was presented by Comrade III. N
Rothey, its Secretary, and ID indicated that
large amount Of good work had been done and
much distress relieved. il simply shows that
small amount of money has been distributed
over large space and that the means at theil
command is entirely inadequate 20 the de
mands on thc committee. NO person has eve
been turned away unless IL was shown tina
they were unworthy. From North, South
East and West they have come asking for aid
and Of the total number relieved but il pc
239 persons, expanding S6i909. They fur
nished 556 meals aud 2l5 nights lodgings. In
asmuch as &c per cent. of the persons relieve,
belong outside this Department, Congress
should at once pass the bill now before il ask
ing an appropriation for this work.
The Encampment passed unanimously
resolution authorizing the Department Com
mandcr 10 confer with the Secretary OF Wa
for the purpose Of securing, if possible the re
opening OF the Aqueduct Bridge for the use 0
the public on Memorial Day; also a resolution
requesting the Representatives from this DE
partment TO the ST. Louis Encampment TO us
all honorable means 90 secure the election o
COmrade Florence Donohue NJ d., Medical Di
rector Of the Department for the past six years
TO the position of Surgeon General, GAR
also one thanking the Department of Californi
for their fratcrnal greetings and generous hos
pitality on the occasion Of the San Francisc
Encampment; also one making IL q misde
meanOr for any comrade 10 receive or collec
money In the District Of Columbia for Memo
rial Day purposes except on lists authorized b
the Department Commander aud Assistan
Adjutant- General. Several resolutions rels
tive 10 pensions were adopted and referred /
the GAR. Pension Committee.
Comrades 5. T. Faunce and A. J. Gunnin
were reappointed Assistant Adjutant- Gener.
and Assistant Quartermaster- General, respe
lively.
An order viii be issued during the week al